Jack Harkness clasped his hands together and rested his forehead against them.
Gwen had just died; the alien had released its poison and both Jack and Gwen had died.
Of course the whole I-am-invincible thing had kicked in and Jack had come back to life.
Jack closed his eyes and let out the long sigh that had been built up inside of him let itself free, and a single tear rolled down his cheek.
Suddenly, in a time that could've been a single second or a thousand years Jack felt arms go around him and a head rest on his shoulder. Jack opened his eyes and looked to the source of the pressure and gave the smallest of smiles.
"Ianto."
Ianto's gaze was steady and offered comfort and protection. Jack closed his eyes again allowed himself to sink into the warmth of the Welshman.
"I was supposed to protect her." Jack's voice was rough and croaky.
There was a pause.
"Jack, you can't protect everyone on this job."
"You can damn well try,"
There was a long and uncomfortable silence.
Ianto pressed his lips to Jack's forehead and pushed Jack's head against his chest.
"Hey," he said. "I'm here. You can take your anger out on me, because I know you need to. Just take it from the beginning."
There was another pause.
"Tell me."
Jack's blue gaze met Ianto's and he placed a delicate kiss on the Welshman's lips. And then he opened his mouth to begin.